Only Three New Signings Can Speak English!

22 July 2013 09:54

Cabral says new-look Sunderland must find a common language in the Far East to ease their transition into the Premier League.

All nine of Sunderland’s first-team summer signings are expected to feature in the two-game tournament, but it will provide a steep learning curve for Sunderland, particularly as only three of the new boys - Vito Mannone, David Moberg Karlsson and Jozy Altidore - are fluent in English.

Cabral: “It will definitely be complicated for us during the first few months of the season with a lot of new players.

“We’ll have to work hard in training to work out our tactics and the way we play.

“Whenever you have a new-look side, it is difficult. So in the first few months, it will be hard.

“But if we prepare right and begin to communicate, we can have a good season.

“I can speak a little English.

“But during the time in Hong Kong, I’m sure the new signings will pick up some more, like we did in Italy.

“When you’re talking with the players you are playing with, you have to take and learn how to say things and you pick up things pretty quickly.

“We were able to do a lot of work in Italy and put in the hard yards which should help us.

“The last few years have been hard at this club, the team and the town.

“But everything changes with the team this summer and I get the impression that if we work hard, we can do well."